Liz Smith Chats Broadway with Jujamcyn Theaters' New President Jordan Roth on WowOWow

Producer Jordan Roth has succeeded Rocco Landesman as President of Jujamcyn Theaters, the owner and operator of five major Broadway theatres. Roth, 33, has taken over leadership of the organization which Landesman presided over from 1987 until his recent confirmation as Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts on August 7. Roth is also acquiring a 50% ownership interest in the privately held company.

Gossip maven Liz Smith spoke to Roth about his new position and what excites and inspires him in the world of theatre.

On producing Roth remarked, "I really respond to the variety of shows we have on Broadway. This town is big enough for all the varieties to run. I find my job is nourishing. I want to also identify and support new ideas and new projects, along with revivals."

To read the full interview, click here.

Jordan Roth joined Jujamcyn Theaters in 2005 as Resident Producer and became Vice President the following year. He has shepherded such Tony Award-winning productions as Spring Awakening and Hair to Jujamcyn houses. In addition to his responsibilities operating and booking the company's theatres, Roth produced A Catered Affair, the musical by Harvey Fierstein and John Bucchino, directed by John Doyle, which was nominated for 12 Drama Desk Awards and won the Drama League Award for Best Musical.

Roth also created Givenik.com, a unique service allowing theatergoers to buy discounted tickets and give 5% of their ticket prIce To the charity of their choice. Before joining Jujamcyn, Roth produced The Rocky Horror Show, which received four Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical Revival. He also produced the theater/nightclub sensation The Donkey Show, directed by Diane Paulus, which ran for six years in New York, played around the world and will open this September at American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge. Roth was graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Princeton University in 1997 with degrees in philosophy and theater. He is currently pursuing an MBA at Columbia Business School. He serves on the Board of Trustees of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC), Freedom to Marry, Young Patrons of Lincoln Center Theater, and The Horace Mann School, of which he is an alumnus.

Jujamcyn Theaters owns and operates the ST. James, Al Hirschfeld, August Wilson, Eugene O'Neill and Walter Kerr theatres on Broadway.

Founded in 1956, the company is named for the three children of its founder, James H. Binger - Judith, James and Cynthia. Current and upcoming productions include Jersey Boys, Hair, Fela!, Finian's Rainbow, and A Little Night Music. Past productions include Angels in America, Big River, Caroline, or Change, City of Angels, Death of a Salesman, Doubt, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Guys and Dolls, Into the Woods, Jelly's Last Jam, Kiss Me, Kate, Love! Valour! Compassion!, M. Butterfly, The Producers, Proof, The Secret Garden, Smokey Joe's Café, Spring Awakening, Take Me Out, The Who's Tommy and six plays by August Wilson.